Morning Report | Sean O’Malley wowed by Ilia Topuria’s epic UFC 317 knockout: ‘Thank God he didn’t accept my callout’

Sean O’Malley has modified his thoughts about desirous to struggle Ilia Topuria.

Following Topuria’s unbelievable first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira in the primary occasion of UFC 317, O’Malley was in absolute awe of the newly topped light-weight champion. O’Malley was so astounded, he retroactively walked again a previous problem he made to Topuria when each held titles in numerous divisions.

“Holy f*ck,” O’Malley mentioned in a reside response to Topuria’s win on his YouTube channel. “Islam [Makhachev] vs. Topuria must occur. He’s up there with Jon Jones. Knocked out [Alexander Volkanovski], knocked out Max [Holloway], knocked out Charles. Islam subsequent at 170? Holy f*ck. Who would even struggle Ilia at 155 subsequent? Holy f*ck, man.

“Thank God he didn’t settle for my callout. … After I beat ‘Chito’ [Marlon Vera], I referred to as out Ilia and he obtained scared and ran to 155. No, I’m simply kidding, thank God the UFC didn’t make that struggle.”

O’Malley’s verbal feud with Topuria peaked after UFC 299 in March 2024, when O’Malley efficiently defended the bantamweight title with a lopsided determination win over Marlon Vera. On the time, Topuria was barely a month faraway from changing into featherweight champion and O’Malley was excited about making a superfight occur.

“I don’t know there’s simply sure folks that you just sort of simply need to struggle. Ilia’s that man,” O’Malley mentioned on The MMA Hour. “He’s additionally carried out a extremely good job. He’s a star. He’s not a famous person however he’s shut and it takes two names to make huge fights.

“I’ve been very vocal since I’ve been within the UFC, my purpose is to get the huge fights. That’s what I need and that’s the explanation behind that callout.”

The grudge match by no means materialized and O’Malley later misplaced the belt to Topuria’s fellow Georgian Merab Dvalishvilli.

O’Malley then misplaced a rematch to Dvalishvili, making his future unclear within the 135-pound division so long as “The Machine” is on high. One factor O’Malley is aware of for positive is that if Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev doesn’t materialize – Makhachev vacated the light-weight title to arrange a welterweight title bout with champion Jack Della Maddalena that’s nonetheless to be made official – he already has an ideal challenger in Paddy Pimblett.

“Ilia vs. Paddy is the struggle to make,” O’Malley mentioned. “That’s the struggle to make so simple as that. Ilia vs. Paddy, 100%, that’s the subsequent struggle if it’s not going to be Ilia vs. Islam.”

“That is going to be a f*cking unbelievable press convention, unbelievable buildup, and a reasonably f*cking epic struggle. Holy shit, that’s the struggle to make. … I’m f*cking excited, let’s make it occur. I’m going to name [UFC CEO] Dana [White], see what we are able to do.”

Legend. Ilia Topuria is the brand new light-weight champion, one of many few two-division champions in UFC historical past, and he achieved this feat with one of many nastiest title struggle knockouts ever.

Subsequent. Paddy Pimblett must be Topuria’s subsequent challenger, proper?

Additionally. Jake Paul beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in his newest foray into boxing.

Love. Joshua Van and Brandon Royval stole the present at UFC 317.

Nope. Dana White shoots down Jon Jones’ rationalization of how the previous few months of his profession went down.

Redemption. Christopher Ewert is getting his shot at Dana White Contender Collection after UFC 317 weigh-in debacle.

UFC 317 post-fight present.

Re-live a wild Saturday evening Watch Celebration.

UFC 317 post-fight scrums.

Paul vs. Chavez Jr. post-fight scrums.

On To the Subsequent One. MMA Combating’s Mike Heck and Alexander Okay. Lee look forward to Ilia Topuria and Alexandre Pantoja’s upcoming title challenges (don’t mess this up, UFC), and make matchup picks for the remainder of the massive winners at UFC 317.

I need NOW.

That mentioned, simply how good is Charles Johnson?

Neat!

Respect.

No want, legend.

Hell of a stat.

{Dollars} and cents.

Hey, cease making sense.

It wasn’t the very best UFC 317 card we may have had on paper, however rattling if the occasion didn’t ship in the long run.

Ilia Topuria’s coronation was pure cinema, Alexandre Pantoja confirmed why he’s considered one of MMA’s best champions, Joshua Van and Brandon Royval gave us a Battle of the Yr entrance runner, and we had a few unbelievable finishes that didn’t even earn Efficiency of the Evening bonuses.

Even higher, the matchmakers have been handed two blockbuster matchups on a silver platter in Topuria vs. Pimblett, and Pantoja vs. Van. Let’s get the ink dry on these contracts ASAP.

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